Boston Marathon 2025 - Part 3 Celebration - Boston Was Her Victory! Moment Met!

Before I begin the recap of the celebration on Boylston Street, in the Mandarin Hotel and in the week that followed, I want to take you back to Hopkinton for a moment. Before Ruth Anne went to her corral, she texted me this photo:

 A week or so before the Marathon, Ruth Anne was inspired to make a button with a photo of me coming down Commonwealth Avenue smiling when we ran the 2009 Boston Marathon as Team McManus. I was so touched that she wanted to do that. She said that if the going got tough, she would look down and remember all I'd overcome and that even though it took us 7 hours and 49 minutes, we crossed that finish line together!

 

 

 

 

The celebration began as soon as Ruth Anne texted me with  "Here I come." She was surprised at the finish line with Caitlin Doherty, her best friend friend from L Street Running Club who took these amazing photos:

 

Walking like a boss after conquering the Newton Hills for Spaulding Rehab.

With Sasha

Receiving the coveted Unicorn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How amazing to celebrate this moment with Cait, the first person Ruth Anne met at the L Street Running Club's Jim Kane Race in 2015.

Erin, Dr. Carter and I went upstairs to wait for Ruth Anne, Tom and Sasha to walk around to the Mandarin. We didn't know Cait was coming to the finish line, otherwise we would have bought her a ticket to the party at the Mandarin. She was just so happy to be at the finish line to celebrate Ruth Anne's second Boston Marathon finish; her first solo one. 

The party was supposed to end at 6 but there were still a lot of people there, many of whom were waiting to celebrate Ruth Anne. I've known Nikki Mansfield through the Facebook Race for Rehab group. She is the heart and soul of the team, showing up for events, and always saying that Race for Rehab is the best team. She had followed Ruth Anne's journey and when I met her in the Mandarin, she gave me the biggest hug. She reassured me that Ruth Anne would do great and helped to calm my jitters along the way. She had gotten to the party at 1pm.  I thought for sure she would have left the party but she wanted to see Ruth Anne cross the Race for Rehab finish line at the Mandarin. Steven Patrick, VP of Development told me that it could be up to 20 minutes before she got back to the Mandarin. Cara Brickley, VP of Operations and Director of Inpatient Services said that she needed to have a crowd gather for when Ruth Anne walked through the doors. I knew Ruth Anne was with Sasha and Tom so I could finally let out a big exhale and celebrate what Ruth Anne and, what we as Team McManus had just accomplished. Cara directed Ruth Anne to the "finish line" door and directed Tom and Sasha to enter the ballroom through another door. Erin did a video of this iconic moment of celebration for the last runner on the 129th Boston Marathon Race for Rehab team to finish:

We also took photos to document Ruth Anne's inspiring Boston Marathon finish:

 

 With Nikki and Dr. Carter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Team McManus with Erin Foley, Ruth Anne's OT of 5 years at Spaulding. Ruth Anne write about how Erin has been a vital part of her recovery on her fundraising page.

Melissa Gleaton and I have been running friends for years. I was so excited to learn that she joined Spaulding Rehab's Development Team about a year ago. She helped me to stay calm throughout the day understanding the jitters of a mother waiting for her daughter to finish the Boston Marathon and captured the day with incredible photos. She took this photo of Ruth Anne hugging me after she walked in the room. Here's a selfie with Melissa after Ruth Anne received a post-race stretch from Spaulding PT's and a shower at the Mandarin Spa.

After everyone congratulated Ruth Anne and the party wound down at around 7:00, we took an Uber home still buzzing with the excitement of the day.

Tom had a vacation day on Tuesday. The sun was shining and so was Team McManus. There's only one thing to do the day after the Boston Marathon when you live in Boston; go back downtown to Copley Square to celebrate! Our first stop was at Eva Boston to celebrate:

 

Runners were wearing medals, finisher jackets and the unique energy that surrounds the Boston Marathon continued to permeate the City. We applauded the Six Star Finishers and conversations spontaneously started from table to table. It was time to get Ruth Anne her Finisher's Jacket at Marathon Sports. While we bought swag at the Expo and at Marathon Sports before she ran Boston, we were superstitious about buying the finisher's jacket. The sign above the Unicorn went from Countdown to Congratulations!

                 

Wednesday through Friday were rest and recovery days. On Saturday, Caitlin asked Ruth Anne to join her for a celebratory brunch at Central Perk. Despite a rainy day, their spirits could not be dampened. Cait shared with Ruth Anne that she can cross the finish line for the next year until the eve of the Marathon. She, however, could not be on the finish line because she did not run Boston this year! Here are the photos of their celebration time together:

 

Caption for this last photo -- Boston was her victory! Moment met!

You can still donate to Ruth Anne's fundraising page to support Spaulding's life saving work. A BIG thank you to our amazing village for your donations, for being out on the course on race day, gift giveaway sponsors, the outpouring of love and support throughout Ruth Anne's healing journey, Race for Rehab especially Amanda Shuman who works day and night to ensure the Team's safety and well-being, and most of all, Spaulding Rehab. Last June, Ruth Anne experienced a sudden onset of alarming symptoms. She couldn't swallow, walk or talk. She had 4 ER visits with symptoms that would wax and wane accompanied by severe migraine headaches. Fortunately she was diagnosed with a neurology team at the Brigham who immediately referred her to Spaulding Rehab for Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapies. As she recovered from the Functional Neurological Disorder, she knew it was time to fulfill her dream of the past 5 years; to run the Boston Marathon as part of the Race for Rehab Team. We are forever grateful to Spaulding for helping Ruth Anne to find her strength and move forward in her life.

From my heart to yours--

In health and wellness - Mary

Visit my website to learn how poetry, optimism, gratitude and the mind/body connection helped me to transform my life. After having been told in December 2006 that I should prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair, I went on to cross the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and have many adventures as runnergirl 1953. Be sure to visit the recently updated News and Events Page for links to podcast interviews, speaking engagements and where you can find my incredibly inspirational story.

My books are available on Bookshop that share a powerful message of healing, hope and possibilities; what's possible despite all appearances to the contrary. Be sure to visit my Author Page on Amazon   My 7th book, "A Most Unlikely Runner:Inspiration From The Heart of a Warrior" is receiving rave reviews and is a selection of the WBZ News Radio Book Club .